TENNESSEE TITANS (+7) @ JAX JAGUARS
While I’m a fan of Coach Del Rio’s move to David Garrard, I don’t think he’ll be looking like Joe Montana in his opening season debut as the Jag’s #1. Obviously, Jacksonville will be running the ball 70% of the time today and should find success against a make-shift DL for the Titans, but I expect them eat plenty of clock and settle for more FGs than they’d like. While the Titans offense is still looking for a playmaker in the backfield or at WR, QB Vince Young is such a sneaky and crafty signal-caller I expect him to keep drives alive on the rollout pass or simply running for a the 1st-down. His size and deceptive speed make him the toughest QB in the NFL to corral and he’s also shown this preseason that his arm is not just adequate, but accurate and strong. I like the Jags to win this, but expect a gutsy performance from the Titans and Mr. Young…trust me, you won’t see many more 7-point spreads from a Vince Young led team from here on out…Jax by a FG

CAROLINA PANTHERS @ ST. LOUIS RAMS (-2)
Considering that in one of my fantasy leagues I have Bulger, S-Jax, & Jeff Wilkens…I’m thinkin’ the Rams are going to be puttin’-up points all season. While the Panthers D is always tough, their much better on grass and should struggle to contain all the Rams playmakers. Especially newcomers TE Randy McMichael and PR/KR/WR Dante Hall, I expect Marc Bulger to light-up a somewhat over aggressive secondary. As for the Panthers side of the ball, besides Steve Smith, I don’t see enough playmakers to get them into the 30s…where I believe the Rams will be most of the season…Rams by 4-7 points

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (-3) @ GREEN BAY PACKERS
The Pack running game has been hit or miss this preseason , while an abundance of nicked-up backs have led to rookie Brandon Jackson being forced to learn on the fly. While Favre is still dangerous, a hobbled Driver on one side and a cast of youngsters on the other should take Mr. Vicodin a few weeks to get comfortable. Also, expect the normally blitz happy defense of Coach Johnson to force Brett to throw a few of his trademark picks. While the Packers defense has been billed as one of the toughest this season, I luv how McNabb spreads the ball around and how RB Brian Westbrook seems to always find a vacant spot in the D on each possession. Finally, the addition of WR Kevin Curtis could be one of the quietest moves this off-season for the Eagles and I expect him to have at least three 1st down catches today…Eagles by a TD

It’s never fun to open up the season on the road in the NFL, but the Broncs have the firepower this year to make it happen. Marshawn Lynch will get his first dose of 4 quarters in the NFL and the boys that live a mile high will simply have him confused with the front seven all day long. Losman doesn’t have enough ability to carry a team through the air, and didn’t have to in ’06 with Henry, who by the way is on the other sideline for this game. Cutler, Walker, Stokley, and Henry will be enough to keep the Bills spread out all day long. A good friend of mine likes Hawkeyes and Horsies, so it’s tough to go against this one. Denver by 10.

Carolina Panthers @ St. Louis Rams -2

Okay, I’m getting sick of the Rams, but when it comes to coin you can’t go away from them on week 1. They are going to score a lot this year with an improving Stephen Jackson, and the Panthers have four defensive players that don’t look to play at full strength already in week one. I can’t find a player on the Panthers offense that can keep this one close, and quarterback controversy will begin early as Carr will most likely get some playing time this week. Nothing like going into the first game with the whole Panthers O saying ‘who’s my leader’??? Rams give up some points, but win by 8.

TEASER SPECIAL

New England Patriots teased down to -.5 @ New York Jets

I almost put the the Pats as an ATS pick, but this rivalry is getting more heated each time the two meet. The Brady bunch have won 8 of the last 9 and will continue that today, but with Mangini and playing at home, the Jets won’t lose by much.

Tampa Bay Bucs @ Seattle Seahawks teased down to EVEN

With Shaun Alexander back to full strength we finally get the Seahawks of ’05 back in action, and that spells bad news for the Bucs who have tried more quarterbacks in recent years than Greggy G’s special brew flavors. Hasselbeck is 16-3 at home the last two years, enough said.